In this review, we will be comparing two different types of speakers by Polk Audio. Polk Audio Monitor XT30 is a Center Channel speaker whereas the XT15 is a Bookshelf speaker.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Polk XT30 and Polk XT15 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Polk XT30 | Polk XT15 |
|---|
| Brand | Polk Audio
United States · founded 1972 | Polk Audio
United States · founded 1972 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" High-res dome | 1" Soft-Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 5.25" bi-laminate paper cone | 5.25" Bi-laminate paper |
|---|
| Frequency response | 55-40k Hz | 48-40k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 89 dB | 86 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 30-200 watts | 30-150 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 5.91kg / 13lbs | 4.09kg / 9lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 6-1/2" x 19-1/16" x 8-3/16"
166.0 x 485.0 x 208.0mm | 10-5/8" x 6-9/16" x 7-3/16"
270.0 x 167.0 x 183.0mm |
|---|
Monitor XT30 and XT15 are members of Polk Audio's Monitor XT series of speakers. Below you can find the loudspeakers from this series.
What size room are the Polk XT30 and Polk XT15 speakers good for?
The size of the room in which you are planning to use these loudspeakers is an important decision
factor. Here we have compared their suitability to various sizes of environments considering their size
and max power parameters:
| Listening Environment* |
Polk XT30 |
Polk XT15 |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Average |
Average |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Good |
| Large Room |
Average |
Average |
| Very Large Room |
Poor |
Poor |
(* Approximate Room sizes: Small < 100sq. ft / 9 m2,
Mid-size: 100-220 sq. ft / 9-20 m2, Large 220-400 sq. ft / 20-36 m2, Very Large: >
400 sq. ft / 36 m2.
Average Floor Height: 9" / 2.7m. Typical room sizes differ from country to country, and the actual
listening experience changes depending on floor height, room shape, surface materials, listening
position, speaker locations, etc.)
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
Both Monitor XT30 and XT15 are 2-way speakers.
Polk XT30Polk XT15
TweeterWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
Polk XT30 |
Polk XT15 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 5.25-inch
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
Monitor XT30 features a 1" Terylene High-res dome Tweeter and 2 x 5.25" bi-laminate paper cone Woofer. On the other hand, the XT15 features a 1" Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" Bi-laminate paper Woofer.
Frequency Response
Monitor XT30 has a frequency range of 55-40k Hz whereas XT15 has a frequency range of 48-40k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 48Hz, the XT15 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Monitor XT30's min frequency of 55Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Center Channel class in our database.
Low Frequency
Center Channel Speakers
Neither pair reaches down to 20Hz, the usual definition of full-range, which is normal for speakers of this size. If you want the bottom octave for movies or bass-heavy music, add a subwoofer to whichever you choose. Visit our Powered Subwoofers section to find out more about the available options.
Impedance and Sensitivity
Monitor XT30 and XT15 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Monitor XT30 sensitivity is rated at 89 dB and the XT15's is at 86 dB. This 3 dB difference makes the Polk XT30 a more sensitive speaker compared to Polk XT15, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Center Channel Speakers
Power Range
Power
range is the range of input power in watts RMS that a loudspeaker is designed to handle. Staying
within that range gives nominal performance; driving the speaker beyond its maximum wattage can damage it.
Monitor XT30 can handle a max power of 200 watts RMS, whereas XT15 has a max power handling value of 150 watts RMS, 50 watts less than the Monitor XT30.
Note that higher power handling does not make a speaker louder: that depends mainly on
sensitivity and impedance. The calculator below shows how loud each of these actually plays
on a real amplifier.
Which plays louder on your amplifier?
Starting with a popular amplifier - change it to the one you own, or any you are
considering, and watch both numbers move.
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
Monitor XT30 features 5-Way post type posts and XT15 has a 5-Way post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Polk XT30's 5-Way post terminals
Physical Specs
The size of a speaker can sometimes be an important decision factor due to space constraints or in some cases purely for esthetic reasons. In this section, we are going to compare Polk XT30's and Polk XT15's external dimensions. Polk XT30 has external dimensions of 166.0 x 485.0 x 208.0mm (6-1/2 x 19-1/16 x 8-3/16inch) whereas Polk XT15 has external dimensions of 270.0 x 167.0 x 183.0mm (10-5/8 x 6-9/16 x 7-3/16inch).
Polk XT15 is 318mm narrower and 25mm less deeper than Polk XT30 but it is also 104mm taller.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Polk XT30 and Polk XT15 in scale.
Comparison image of Polk XT30 and Polk XT15 Size and External Dimensions
Base Surface Area Comparison
Base surface area of a loudspeaker may become a determining factor when the space in your room or desk is limited.
The base surface area of the Polk XT30 is approximately 1008.8cm2 / 156.4inch2 and base area of the Polk XT15 is approximately 305.6cm2 / 47.4inch2. The Monitor XT30 requires 230% more surface area than the XT15 which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.
What's in the Box of Polk XT30?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Monitor XT30:
- Center-channel loudspeaker
- Grille (attached)
- 4 Self-adhesive rubber feet
- Owners Manual
- Online Product Registration
- Wall-Mount Template
What's in the Box of Polk XT15?
Here are the items that come with the XT15:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Grilles (attached)
- 8 Self-adhesive rubber feet
- Owners Manual
- Online Product Registration